Bonus Episode: Ask Us Anything

7 turn

I love that Mike is (was) reading about paleontology! I am a paleontologist and I've always enjoyed the attention to detail and methodology from both Mike and Aubrey. You guys are great!

We have artifacts of plates... one of the oldest things they find in pottery. Also, prior to industrialization everything was hand made so there wasn't a standard size for things... my brain is broken by how absurd it is

Coming back to listen to this in November 2025 and I'm now fully wearing plus size. I have to say, I loooooove current Torrid! I'm wearing one of their shirts right now and I got more in the mail today :)

A truly staggering number of the things Aubrey says about being a fat person feel so resonate to me as a trans person about my experience being trans.

I thought you were talking about this post for sure, then I realised there's more. Ugh. https://jennakutcherblog.com/curvy-woman-opens-up-about-having-mr-six-pack-as-her-husband-inspiring-thousands/

On the subject of salads, there is another podcaster who has got in there before you. I'm sure a salad episode done by you guys would be better, but in the absence of that, check out Blindboy's take on summer salads https://shows.acast.com/9d5c107b-68d6-4c1b-8c80-45ee6a84c947/ca8cd2e9-6de9-49d7-9637-8a152f7db6b3

Learning that Mike's Mom was the pastor makes all his accounts of how she was treated about her weight even more disheartening. Imagine trying to serve your community and having everyone whisper about how your body looks.

Please do the salads episode 😍

I would pay money to listen to uncut episodes. Yall are always talking about how much you had to cut out, how much you had to condense your notes… I would listen to it all.

Omg I will mourn the salad episode! I immediately thought of like, gendered food etiquette and serving conventions of the Victorian era. Stuff like serving the men a hearty stee but preparing a separate clear broth for the women, because maintaining a certain body was a marker of class as well as race privilege. And how having the resources to routinely make an entire meal out of fresh produce is very much tied to class even today as those foods aren't always accessible to poor people.

If you like Qi, they have a spin off podcast from the team called: no such thing as a fish - completely recommend

And as U

Aubrey’s “WHAAAT” when learning about mike’s giant notes document killed me 😂 thank you for your honesty and all the work you both do!

Sandra Lee 🥹💕

I've been eating whole tubs of greens in two sittings or so. Love salads.

Mike, I love what you said about organized religion. I get backlash for being a trans bisexual Christian. It doesn't seem to register a lot of the time that I am an outspoken opponent to religious political performance and that I will readily tell people that this "mainstream Christian" movement thing doesn't look anything like what I believe. Like I don't think we read the same Bible

I know I’m way late to the party but I ALSO read the dinosaur book and it WAS great!

I'm really late to this conversation and I'm sure I'm not the first person to do so, but I'm to lazy to read all 300 comments so... I just wanna add that prejurrasic park paleoart is full of fat dinosaurs. (plenty of fat bias to be found for sure, as they were considered to be slow moving and often unable to move their own bulk outside of swamps) I always go back to old dinosaur art as much because of nostalgia as anything, but also because they felt more physical and, pardon the pun, fleshed out than the sleek evolution machines, that look like they're just waiting to become birds, we started depicting in the 90s and 00s. I love your show, and it has helped me feel so much more comfortable with my being fat. You helped me turn a word that made me hate myself into one that helped me love myself and that's just so much more than you could ever know. Love you both and thanks for everything

The best answer to the congratulatory "how did you lose weight?" question I have ever heard was from my (late) mother-in-law. She cheerfully answered with a big smile on her face "I have cancer! It really works!"

Loveeeeee this episode!!!

Re the clothes issue - it REALLY irritates me how men's clothes always come in a bigger range of sizes than women's. It particularly annoys me with what in the UK are called "walking" gear. So, waterproof or quick dry trousers, wicking/breathable tops designed for if you go out walking or hiking. Of all the exercises people can do, going for a walk is probably one of the easiest for fat people to do. You can go by yourself or with a trusted friend rather than have to join a potentially judgy class, and there's no special instruction required. Many in the UK are lucky enough to live where getting into open countryside is pretty easy too. I have had to buy men's trousers a few times, because the companies selling this gear stopped at UK size 16 (which they usually have the nerve to call XL) for women when stats show the average British woman is size 16, while continuing on to much bigger sizes for blokes. Of course the men's pants don't tend to account for the hips & bum, so I have to buy a huge size with a loose waist or try to cope with a slightly too-tight waist. So presumably they think it's OK a) for blokes to be fatter & b) to want to go out walking/hiking. Gah! I have also occasionally tried to shop with green/eco labels, only to find they don't want my money because they too think bust 34", waist 35" is XL....

I want the salad episode…

and one all about sugars and “sugars”

do salads!!

I would actually LOVE a salad origin story episode 👀👀

The problem with formally fat people tends to be the same problem you see in the disability community and it's basically just people who are judging others based on their personal experiences. As for being honest I did that when I lost weight and people did not like it It was actually kind of funny. I lost weight because of the medication I was taking. It caused me to drop like 30 lb when people would congratulate me and ask me how I did it I was just like its the side effect of a medication, it made people super uncomfortable I have made at least a few of them think twice before asking anybody else that question

I had to google Curvy Wife Guy because once you said he had music I’m like omg is it that dude on TikTok people on my feed have been 🤢🤢🤢 to? And it sure is!

I love this episode! Will we be discussing Black culture, thickness & Sir Mix A Lot? I love your lenses on fatness, race & queerness. Can’t wait to hear more!

I would love a salad episode! I often wonder why I’m eating pretty tasteless leaves 🤨

Just got around to listen to this one today and I love love love to know both Mike and Aubry love QI as much as I do

I think there's lots of opportunity for the Salads episode, especially when you look at how many restaurants have whole pages of their menu dedicated to just that. (Looking at you, Cheesecake Factory) Then there's the whole "I love me a woman who can eat" but then gets pissed if they gain weight or otherwise change size.

ahhhhh deadname 😬 can’t figure out how to switch it to dylan!

would love someone to dissect supersize vs super skinny. no one talks about it but it’s so harmful

You two!! Can I just say you two are brilliant, say things I have always felt but never had the words and my goodness - the humor! There have been many times I laugh with you guys just because of how hard and authentically you’re laughing. Your content covers counter ideas I have never dared to think before and you’ve emboldened my self acceptance.

Salad: Getting to the meat of the matter.

I immediately went and read Rax King’s book, and between that and Aubrey’s own writing, I would love to hear more of her recs. Anyone know if she has ever posted/published/made-public any others?

I'd love a salad episode! I think the salad community can handle it 😂

I said literally the same thing as Michael about the PNW constantly being like "oh, we're liberal, we don't discriminate here" when Aubrey was talking about the "high school with an allegedly good track record on LGBTQ issues was actually had a bad track record and a need for a GSA"! (For reference, grew up in Ohio, moved around a bunch, ended up in Seattle.)

What do you all think about Athletic Greens? I’d love to hear an episode about that. Thanks!

I WANT THE SALAD EPISODE ASAP

Please tell me this episode resulted in some fat-dinosaur fan-art. 🦖🦕

When can we have a bonus episode of the bits cut out of Snake Oil? I need this in my life!!!

I’m fat. My boyfriend is thin. And thankfully he would never think to say anything like curvy white guy did. He just sees me as a woman. He’s not fixated on my body. He doesn’t care about my size and I dont care that he is short

“I’m not crying, you’re crying.” Is what I would expect on a story involving like a child reunited with their long lost dog. Not these two straight average people are attracted to each other

I laughed out loud about the size of plates in painting. It was a bark. I barked out a laugh. Amazing. 😂😂😂

I’m so on board with a salad episode. The last three times I went out to eat, with different people each time, ALL the women ordered salads as entrees, while the men ate raviolis or a brisket sandwich, or whatever. Most recently, I decided to buck the trend and so dude and I were eating nice meals—he had the raviolis, I had grilled Italian sausage with steamed vegetables and roasted potatoes—and the other women could not stop looking at and commenting on my food.

Absolutely love how Mike explained seeing the world in ways you cannot due to your privilege. I feel the same as a thin person who listens to the show and was made aware of my own fatphobic views and is working on them. I also feel very strongly connected to Aubrey when she talks about unsolicited health advice. I have never been fat but I had severe acne growing up. It’s managed now with medication but I always felt it was a personal failing and that I was judged for being dirty and lazy, in the same way many fat people are. Many people casually gave me diet advice I didn’t ask for, unprompted, as if I was unaware of my bad skin. I stand with you.

Cobb Salad! Yes! Or with fried chicken on top. Also anything with goat cheese and fruit.

Also rax king (and her co-host amber) do a podcast called low culture boil if you like your tacky to be delivered audibly!

"Those guys" who are all about fat bodies are the literal fucking worst. I'm a fat wheelchair user, and one dude straight up called me "Meals on wheels."

“Banger” is Australian for sausage so you know I fell down a very curiously decorated rabbit hole when confronted with the idea of a “Big Girl Banger.” Worst. Track title. Ever.

“Intellectually Nutritious” must be on some merch soon

I'm sorry if someone's already asked this, but as a librarian, Aubrey mentioning sitting down with all her sources made me wonder what citations management tools you use (such a nerdy q lol)

I want a salad episode! I’m a white lady and love salads! I feel so cliche and want to know why!!!

Aubrey, I love your salad episode idea! My soon to be mother in law ordered salads for me (I’m a woman) and her and then got pizza “for the boys” at dinner once. My jaw was on the floor. I did not realize ~healthy~ foods were this gendered. Literally felt too nauseated to eat any food I got that night.

As per usual, wonderful episode. That being said I had never heard of curvy wife guy and the story ruined my day. All good points and I'm glad that you guys put it out there for those of us who hadn't heard it before but seriously f*** that guy and all of those likes.

👏🏼 SALADS 👏🏼 SALADS 👏🏼 SALADS (you have to do that episode now)

Have you seen @chubbymermaids on TikTok? They do AMAZING plus size fashion skits, so funny

I love y'all SO HARD. i know it's impossible, but it would enrich my life immeasurably for you two to have shows every day. That unfair work demand aside, this has nothing to do with diet and nutrition culture, but i would pay extra for you to do a show about the abhorrent Daylight Savings Time. THANK YOU SO MUCH for all your magnificent shows!

Loved this bonus!! Know y’all are getting SO MANY requests but if you’re looking for more 🥴 I would love a take down / research deep dive of “adrenal fatigue.” !!!!!

I would love to hear an episode about the “documentary” That Sugar Film.

My friend just introduced me to Liver King on Instagram and I had to blurt out somewhere to request an episode on this maniac

I love how this guy is like “don’t worry ladies, someday you’ll find a guy like me” that’s hilarious to me

“I want to provide that reassurance, but sometimes they are fucking it up!” As a trans person I felt that in my soul

I'm so sorry I'm an eating disordered 40 year old. I didn't eat in the 90s and you are so helpful. Like anyone ate in the 90s.

I need to know if Aubrey said “bargain basement” in reference to Next Adventure in Portland

I just saw that Dr Oz is running for a senate position and this was the first place I came. I need commentary from you two about this

Same. I lost about weight one summer due to horrible anxiety and got a lot of compliments 😭

Isaac Fitzgerald has one of my favorite Substacks, Walk It Off (which is not about walking weight/fat/anything off). He goes on walks and has long talks/ interviews with different folks. Rax King was recently featured. This walk made me want to read their book and Aubrey's description sealed the deal. https://walkitoff.substack.com/p/a-walk-in-industrial-bushwick-with?s=r

Holy shit can y’all please do an ep on the website skinnygossip??? I randomly came across it a while ago and it is HORRIFYING

Ooh, can we have a monthly newsletter about what you all are reading and listening to? I loved the last question so much!

Ask us anything: Dr Livingood, young living essential oils.

So here's a story for you: a friend of mine, a college professor, had his leg amputated because of diabetes (type I), he lost his vision in one eye, and once as he was walking home, he was hit by a car on a crosswalk. His prosthesis was broken, but he was mostly ok. A local newspaper did a piece on the incident, mentioning diabetes; in comments to the online edition, several people said something to the effect "so this guy just wants to sit around and eat donuts all day while we subsidize his healthcare?!" It is not surprising but still shocking how casually cruel people are as soon as they get a whiff of a socially acceptable way of letting it all loose.

Count me as another person interested in a salad episode!

On today's Zombie episode, I actually OMGOL when Michael said that the researcher "intuitively" drew his conclusions. Holy shit!

FYI Curvy Wife Guy has some horrible music. (On trend) PS I would listen to you two talk about anything!

Honestly I am READY for a history of salads episode!

I've been thinking about the possibility of a salad episode and particularly a comment somewhere in here about the shift to bowls. I've taken two different community health surveys in the last couple of years that specifically asked how often you eat/when you last ate a lettuce-based salad. Is there really anything useful that can come from that question? I'm also always unsure how to answer it - does the burrito bowl I eat for lunch or dinner every day (rice, beans, lettuce, tomato, salsa) count? It has lettuce but I wouldn't call it lettuce-based; on the other hand it definitely counts if they're using lettuce-based salads as a proxy for eating vegetables.

comment on the fashion and gender stuff - I feel like or have felt like theres been an expectation of fat women specifically to dress up waaay more than a thin woman would have to to be considered 'fashionable', and also in a way that is much more hyper feminine.. personally this to me has felt like an example of how fatness is dehumanized, that you would have to put so much more work and also have it be specifically hyper feminine to be 'fashionable.' not sure that makes sense. and I guess it's a little dated, maybe something I was noticing maybe five or so years ago when 'body positive' clothing first became more of a buzzword. not that theres anything wrong with fat women wanting to dress feminine, its more just a feeling of having to "prove it" in a way thin people wouldn't have to. and I'm sure fat men experience this too of course it was just something I noticed with women.

I sincerely need you to know that I would love the shit out of a tacky dinosaur episode

I would like a tacky dinosaur t shirt. Please and thank you. 🦖🦕

Wait was the halter polka dot dress a purple & black dress from torrid bc I’m pretty sure I wore that to my senior winter formal 😂

OMG Sandra Lee's tablescapes 🤣🤣🤣

I had somehow missed the Curvy Wife Guy Debacle, and just . . . yeah. I could not possibly give less of a shit if some dude thinks I'm fuckable, I just want doctors to treat me like a person and be able to find clothes I feel comfortable in. (And also maybe for people to not tell me about their own body anxieties and weight loss goals.)

Lol I got mad at the "renaissance painting dinner plates" study because like... archeology is a thing?! like look at the surviving kitchenware from various time periods and compare those!! Why look at painting when there are physical artifacts to look at?!?

Omg please do a salad episode!

I'd love to hear your take on mental health treatment of eating disorders. For instance, here's a local ED expert and I find her approach really problematic! I'm not an ED expert, but I think treating "Obesity" along with every other eating disorders with a "Clean vs Polluted Food" approach really concerning. https://www.eatingdisorderpro.com/about

I'm so excited you both watch QI!

Rax King is one of the hosts of the fantastic podcast Low Culture Boil: https://lowcultureboil.libsyn.com/

this was so good! only regret- I wish I asked where Aubrey buys her amazing pen/marker/highlighter organizer that you can see in the background of one of the NYT article photos. so beautiful, so perfectly organized…

All I could hear was Claire Huxtable when « the doctor was his MOTHER ». Just brilliant again, thanks for all the openness and coherence.

I cackled at “his mom WAS the doctor” and so many other parts of this episode. You are both completely delightful and I really needed this today. With regards to weight loss and other people commenting, I’ve always gained/loss weight for different reasons (stress, medication, actual ED) and used to be coy when someone would compliment my weight loss. It wasn’t until recently when a family member said that it was great that I lost some weight and without hesitation, I told her I was stressed and burnt out and nauseous all the time. It was so liberating to say it out loud and not have to carry it alone.

Not to shill for Old Navy, but I have purchased plus sized gender neutral items. I think you can't use both filters when shopping, but you can find larger sizes in the neutral category.

Aubrey, thank you so much for bringing clarity to my life. Hearing you so brilliantly articulate and clarify things I have been feeling but had no idea how to understand or express is such a relief I get teary most episodes. In a good way. I loved hearing about both of your research processes and what books you're reading. Also, I can't wait for the salad episode!

Salads are fun, Salads are great! But they leave me hungry, I’ll eat snacks at 8.

Aubrey, thank you for saying why you haven’t done an episode on anti-fatness and pregnancy/fertility. Pregnancy as fat woman was the most isolating time of my life and a time where doctors felt comfortable being openly hostile towards me for being so negligent and reckless as to to get pregnant while fat. I wondered why you guys hadn’t tackled the subject when you’ve tackled so many hard subjects around anti-fat bias. I completely understand how this subject is one that is too hard to talk about right now and am sending you good vibes and non-creepy internet stranger hugs. Love your guys’ show and look forward to every episode!

99% Invisible did an EP about dinosaurs, the updated version is called Welcome to Jurassic Art Redux. Some of the guests pointed out that if you tried to draw an elephant or whale, etc, based just on the skeleton, you'd end up with something that looked really nothing like we know.

Oh man. I feel very very seen hearing you talk about how clothing shapes gender expression. A lot of my eating and exercise habits were so closely tied to my gender expression. Being gender nonconforming and trans as a fat person made my relationship to fashion and expression real difficult. "You can have your gender expression or you can have your size" YES, thank you for saying it! I hate it!!!

I have never felt as seen by anything as I do by the discussion of how fat people don't have a lot of style choices, clothing-wise. I just got done explaining to a friend that I don't have a personal style other than "leggings and the biggest sweatshirt/sweater I can find" because I am at the mercy of whatever the hell clothing is sold in my size. Also I totally wore exclusively men's clothing for like six years in high school/college. So many cargo pants. And then stopped in college 50% because I was a late bloomer and got very hippy and men's pants fit weird on my newly giant hips and 50% because I was trying to date men and people kept assuming I was a butch lesbian.

So excited to listen later today. I need some Maintenance Phase to counteract the day I’m having — at a conference and the keynote speaker just started by quoting Marianne Williamson 😭

Here for the salad episode

Thanks so much for the book recommendations at the end. I got home and immediately requested both from my library! I'd love that as a recurring segment. Also, I love a salad for lunch, but I'm with Mike, you have to add a lot of protein to it or I immediately get hungry. :)

I am 100% invested in a potential salad episode. How did we get to a place where we attach so much moral superiority to a $16 bowl of crunchy water?

The first question hit hard- I unintentionally lost a significant amount of weight a few years ago, people would compliment me and praise me and it made me extremely uncomfortable. They had no idea that I was struggling with anxiety after the sudden loss of my sister and physically couldn’t eat without getting sick. I was struggling beyond measure. I got angry because instead of asking if I was okay, or seeing through that and realizing I was struggling - they unknowingly praised the result of a really hard time in my life.

Cate Kneale! Yes, Target Women. What happened to her?! Also, I’m a boomer and don’t know how to reply to comments here! Wah!

PART TWO, pleeeeeeease!!!

The history of salad would be a great episode, especially if you also covered jello salad. I know Catherine of Aragon introduced salad to the UK from Spain, so presumably white people salads in the US come from that.

Next april fools you have to do an episode about tacky dinosaurs

I need the Salad Episode. Saladgate.

So fun that you ended the episode with QI. Lately in conversation I have heard myself saying, Wait, did I hear about that on QI or on Maintenance Phase? Love y'all.

Aubrey, I hear you about the 90s fat girl fashion. THE WORST. And wearing army surplus - not my jam, but I had no choice. I am Canadian and I would have loved to have Torrid and Lane Bryant as options! I used to look at their clothes online back before buying them online was a thing and be so mad I couldn't get them. (I may or not not have taken a job at a summer camp in Maine at least partially so I could go to Lane Bryant, which ate up approximately 90% of my earnings from said job.)

So much baggage for me re: salads. Would love an episode on this. I have a digestive disease and raw vegetables trigger my symptoms. I've found there's a positive correlation between people who push me to eat raw veggies and people who are openly bigots. The same people who can't imagine someone could become sick from raw broccoli also often can't imagine the existence of transgender people, etc. Unexpected correlation but both fueled from lack of empathy. TLDR: Lots of salad hot takes; I'd LOVE Aubrey's thoughts on them.

Excellent episode, love yall x

I just want you to know how happy I am that you both watch QI.

I just checked out Mike's dinosaur book rec and it's reduced on Kindle (£0.99 on UK Amazon, not sure about US) - just FYI 😋

Does anyone remember Fashion Bug? And all the cute trendy stuff they only carried in their junior side? I ended up with a horrid mauve mother of the bride dress for a formal high school dance.

Yeah, I wore mens white t-shirts and flannels. Also had some torrid 50s style dresses in the first decade of the 2000s. I’m 38 so that tracks. Saw a tweet that said Torrid is basically like, “Hey Fatty, do you want skulls or Mickey?” 🤣

Well I'm now listening to The Rise and Fall of Dinosaurs!

ok I 100% want to hear the SALAD EPISODE!!!

i loved tacky!! the warm vanilla sugar essay made me cry

I’m screaming because while listening to the curvy wife guy part I thought to myself “this guy/couple sounds familiar and after a quick google search I realized he’s the same guy who asked me to be in one of his music videos. I couldn’t pit my finger on why his music rubbed me the wrong way, but you guys definitely put it into words that I couldn’t

Wait can I ask why Mike hates electrolytes lol

I AM SO HERE FOR THE SALAD CONVO!!! Puh-leeeeease!!!

Loved this episode! You absolutely did not ask but here comes a random topic request- quacks who pretend they can cure adhd with magical food? Or pretend that adhd is caused by red dye number 40 and sugar? The ableism of it all. Signed, Neurodivergent and over it.

I loved this episode, I love you guys, and I love Tuesdays because they are Maintenance Phase Days! A few thoughts: 1.) I *NEED* a salad episode. 2.) I’d love a Maintenance Phase Book Club (mentioned by another patron!) 3.) Would you be open to doing an episode (or even part of an episode) on Lizzo’s new show? I’m eager to hear your thoughts. 4.) Any plans for additional coverage of fat suits? When Aubrey mentioned Monica’s fat suit episode on Friends it peaked my interest. There are so many movies and shows that utilize fat suits. I know Renee Zellweger is wearing one in a show right now.

aaaaaaarrrghhh aubrey the high school fashion is making me scream with recognition, all of my friends were big into surf/skate clothes but none of the girl brands of those fit me so i ended up with a lot of tshirts from the men's brands and nothing else lol

Once had a guy message me on tinder saying “you’re not usually my type but there’s just something about you, would be interested in something physical” and I was like “lol I suggest you find someone who is your usual type then” and unmatched him

I'm sure y'all already know about it but the Deep Focus playlist on spotify is my go work soundtrack. I get a lot of overly complicated excel formula writing done with that playlist going. I grew up in the south in the 80s and the only salads I saw were basically bowls of iceberg lettuce smothered in ranch dressing with maybe some shredded carrots for color that came with meals and were pushed aside after a few polite bites. No thank you!

Maintenance Phase Book Club?

But also is the move toward “bowls” just an attempt to de-feminize the salad? We really need the salad episode please.

Aubrey! Salad is not a crazy out there nothing story! Check out “the sexual politics of meat” by Carol Adams Foods are very much influenced by the patriarchy I’d love an episode on this

I, too, cannot abide working without some kind of ambient sound. My go-to option is coffitivity.com; someone went to coffee shops/houses and recorded the ambient noise, so it's like working in a coffee house at home (or wherever you're trying to get stuff done)!

OMG, I'm so getting that dinosaur book. Thanks!!! Love you guys. :)

This was so delightful and joyful to listen to!

Ok ok but Aubrey. Did you get to have a like Undercover Agent/Hannah Montana moment when people mentioned Your Fat Friend in conversation before you revealed your identity?

Omg, Aubrey, highschool experience and clothes; HARD SAME!!!

The cultural roots of salad is the episode I didn't know I needed.

If you like the QI show you'll love the podcast No Such Thing as a fish brought to you by the QI elves

I love salad and would literally die for a salad episode. ALSO I hate the lame salads though. Salads can BE hearty and amazing and the weird diet salads are not it!

love love love hearing y'all discuss what you are reading!!!

God the gender + clothes + fatness cycle is the bane of my existence. I'm "obese" but in one of the palatable ways with a more hourglass shape, so Torrid for a long time was really the only place where I could even get clothes I knew would FIT at all. Took me forever just to get comfortable dressing like that because it wasn't like a had a wealth of other choices. Then, tada, it's a boy. Suddenly all the clothes I just got comfortable in I felt like I couldn't (note: not that I don't necessarily want to, but if I want to be a good transgender I can't) wear anymore. And my experience with men's clothes has been truly miserable. Anything that has any amount of color or expression doesn't actually come in plus sizes. My options are beige, blue, and gray shirts. It blows.

Clothing design and fatness is one of those topics that it would be interesting see covered more in-depth. I'm short and fat, but on the "smaller" end of fat (size 18-ish). Finding things that fit can be a challenge because what fits around my bust and stomach is often too long or too broad in the shoulders. I can sew, so I've gotten into making more of my own clothes. I try to stick to either thrifted or handmade clothes for my wardrobe. Plus-size patterns that fit well can be a definite challenge. Indy pattern designers have turned out to be a better option than commercial pattern designers since when they commit to doing plus-size options, they're just better at sizing things and providing variations for fit. Learning how to alter existing clothing and adjust patterns for fit is a skill I'm still working on, but it's really useful. BUT not everyone has the time or inclination to do that. My mom doesn't like sewing and she has a hard time finding things that she actually likes that fit, which makes her body image issues worse. I swear, it seems like all of her "nice" clothes are basically structured like sacks and I don't know if that's because that's what's available or because she doesn't feel comfortable in more fitted clothes.

"but then, of course, it gets to Twitter"

Hahahah; this plate study thing is sending me over the edge! I’m addition to all of the other points made; don’t we have any “actual” old plates from history? Why would anyone do that weird plate-painting study?

I want the salad episode! I am a non salad lady married to salad loving man, and servers are always trying to give him my food. It's so odd! How did a plate of raw veggies get so gendered? Also, I really appreciate Mike talking about his family and how religion is not always awful. (Lots and lots of bad stuff though, I am not trying to deny that.) I am a super lefty Catholic lady who was raised by very kind, loving Catholic parents. Religious people are as diverse in their thoughts and behavior as everyone else. ❤

i think i speak for everyone when i say we are begging u to release the tacky dinosaur ep

As a small man indoors, I have been waiting for this.

History of salad sounds interesting.

Will you review Lizzo's reality show when it comes out???

Lowkey a salad episode sounds really interesting… Sorry Michael! And salad people LOL

Audrey, you are only two years older than I am. I fervently reject the premise that we are middle-aged!

Eeeee!!!! Fantastic episode! OBSESSED with QI. 8 bajillion episodes of Steven, Sandy and British people of varying levels of fame talking about random topics?!?! YES, PLEASE. So good.

I’m reading that dino book and loving it too 😁 🦕 🦖

When I was in high school, they'd dress code fat girls wearing the exact same thing skinny girls were wearing everyday. So my older sister who was fat would get dress coded wearing the same thing I was. My 'solidarity' was wearing the same thing my sister would wear just to test the dress code waters (I don't remember the results, I just remember being very angry about it and nobody understanding what the hell I was raging about). Fat girls got dress coded for wearing shorts. In Arizona. During the spring and summer.

Something I think about all the time: 15 years ago, I used to watch a lot of TLC documentary shows about pregnancy and birth. One show was following around a pregnant woman who worked as a "fit model" for regular sized clothes, and she had gained a little weight in her pregnancy. The show followed her to a fitting for work and the designer is going on and on about how she is such a great fit model. He says that the pair of shorts she is wearing were designed based on a size 4 fit model, then were sized up, and this woman is now around a size 10, but the shorts still look perfect on her. He was literally praising her because her *body* happened to fit the clothes they had already designed. It's supposed to be the other way around!

Tell me why I knew Mike's parents were Presbyterian specifically

I could listen to hours and hours of this

Aubrey, I’m sure this has been asked before - but I’m a fat lady about town in Portland and want to be your best friend. Is that something we can arrange? 😍

Not gonna lie, I would totally listen to an episode about the history of salad. 😊

This was so fun/informative/poignant - of course! What else could I expect?? Loved the book recommends - got them all in my list now. Can't WAIT to get to "Tacky" - anything Samantha Irby is down with is solid gold, baby.

YAY!!!!!! Thank you!!! So excited to listen :)

Ok just to be clear I would LOVE some info about salads lmao. To contrast it I want to hear about bacon. How did people come to stan bacon? Why is salad a girly food? Why is meat masculine? What gender is oatmeal? I could listen to it for sure!

When I saw the cover shot I was like: is this how Mike is expressing his love for Aubrey now? I was also optimistic in thinking “big girl banger” was in reference to Lizzo Songs. To be fair Lizzo has dropped some big girl bangers I can actually fuck with.

For those looking for the book that Aubrey mentions: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/669783/tacky-by-rax-king/ It is so good!!

Guys guys guys have you listened to No Such Thing as a Fish? It’s a podcast hosted by some of the QI elves it’s my favourite thing

As a 28 year old gay lady pastor, I LOVED the moment where Aubrey assumed your dad was a pastor. 😂 every week I get asked, “wait, YOU’RE the pastor here?!?!” and they never respond with as much grace as Aubrey did. Yay lefty/progressive/radical Christian representation! When y’all do an episode on Christian diet culture, please don’t forget we’re out here!

This was a fantastic episode. And I agree with others — I want access to Work Pretty. Also a great thing to throw on a T-shirt.

Please co-author a childrens book that lays out different ways dinosaurs might have looked if they were fat

I love the salad idea!!!! How did it become the symbol of "healthy eating"?

I'm so sad. I can never listen to the patreon episodes. They start playing and then abruptly turn off. Same when I download them. Guess I'll have to wait until they release it to everyone.

Off-topic comment landing in 3...2...1... OMG, please, you MUST watch and comment on the Netflix movie Brittany Runs a Marathon. I watched about 20 minutes of it last night because I couldn't believe what I was seeing, but I threw up in my mouth so much I had to turn it off. Can't wait to hear you BURN IT ALL THE WAY DOWN. Thank you! Your podcast is my favorite.

Mike, I’m also the kid of very progressive and also very Christian (though not ministers) parents and what you said meant so much to me. My parents derive huge meaning and peace from their faith tradition and the community it offers (and more aging people need community! Isolation is a scourge!) but I know it’s hard for them to talk about with lefty friends who think the whole idea is deranged. There are beautiful veins of radicalism in lots of Christian faith traditions and I think the Left would be much better served if we were more inviting to people of faith. I, like you, actually haven’t followed in their footsteps (though lots of people do come back to faith traditions later on!) but I love what faith means and does for my family. ALSO so much “thoughtful” atheism is just poorly disguised Islamophobia and no one has time for that bs. Anyway! Thank you for sharing!

Woof! The fat people losing weight hit hard. Before my celiac diagnosis I had diarrhea fourteen times an hour and went from 195 to 135 and people were thrilled! People were so disappointed that I went gluten free and gained all of the weight back and then some! Never mind that I was malnourished and on the verge of pooping myself (sorry, Michael!) and setting myself up for blood cancers. Also, do we need Tacky Dinosaurs merch?

Ahhh!! Omg as another child of Presbyterian ministers (*both* of my parents are), I identified so much with Michael’s experience! Didn’t know this about him so I was tickled to learn that in the episode

yes! about trying to navigate losing some weight. I’m fed up with how freaking thrilled people are that I have lost weight. I call it “Thank God there’s less of you!” I try to say “I’m still the same person.” I also try to tell people that it’s a huge change, and that instead of adulation, people in the midst of weight loss could use a check-in. Instead of “What a relief that you’re less of an obesity emergency,” how about “wow that must be a big change, how are you doing with the stress of it?” That losing weight is being suddenly approved of, suddenly onstage, suddenly invited to hang with the cool kids, while at the same time there might be more sexual interest we’re not ready for, there might be deep disappointment with loose skin and other changes we didn’t expect, and resistance or resentment from friends and family. Losing weight can mean crossing into a promised land that is so scary and disappointing it’s no wonder nobody stays there long.

Kurzgesagt has this fun video about what dinos might have looked like! Spoiler alert: pretty cute. https://youtu.be/xaQJbozY_Is

Enjoyed this a lot! Listened while baking banana bread - very early pandemic vibes. Loved the QI chat about dinosaurs - gotta read that book. But also! There is a museum not far from where I live in London called The Horniman museum full of taxidermied animals taken to Britain during Victorian times so they’re posed in unnatural positions because people in Britain had never seen these animals before! But also…there is a walrus with no folds just like…a balloon. It is sooo good. Can’t attach a photo but look up “horniman museum walrus” and you’ll see it.

Re: Curvy Wife Guy, there’s this big Canadian influencer couple who’s entire thing is about him being the standard hot guy who goes to the gym and her being fat and him still loving her. Their content gives me major weird anti-fat vibes despite anti-fat bias being what they claim to address.

Aubrey, you'll never guess who just did an episode about the declasse/tacky--Freakonomics! I know how much Mike loves them...

Currently listening to the salad slander while eating a salad and garlic bread :D but honestly, that seems like an interesting topic!

PLEASE CAN WE HAVE THE SALAD EPISODE????

Omg yes please an episode of white women laughing alone with salad

Amazing episode! And the QI-link is just the cherry on top!

Specific attraction to fat people is so tricky. I used to think someone would have to be into me in spite of my body. It took me about five years to come around to the idea of someone liking me for my body. I had a lot of shame about my body, and receiving positive attention for something I was ashamed of felt so disorienting. Now I can say I'm solidly in a place where I'm not ashamed of my fatness, and I feel sexy sometimes when I look in the mirror, which happened for me for the first time around age 30. Someone being attracted to my body is now something I expect as a baseline, and I can't believe I ever didn't expect or even want it. I present as a very fat gay guy, so I've received almost no unwanted sexual attention ever. I'm now generally surprised by how fat women tend to discuss receiving attention for their bodies rather than in spite of their body as universally harmful. I feel like I see discussions of people attracted to fat people foremost as creeps, and feel like I never see discussion of sexual attention for having a fat body as validating or celebratory. It makes me wonder how much the conversation is shaped by the kind of stigma-driven shame I broke through, if that's something that might be lifted by continued progress of fat liberation, how much is shaped by trauma regarding unwanted attention, and which other factors I'm not understanding. I also feel like there's an attitude about "fat admirers" and "chubby chasers" that they should have no place in fat liberation, and that feels wrong to me. In my mind those people are obvious potential allies, and an ideal partner for me would be someone who is attracted to my body, wants to understand my experience as a fat person, and wants to help make the world better for people like me. And yet I feel like I observe people who are attracted to fat people being excluded from fat liberation spaces.

Tacky dinosaurs! Tacky dinosaurs!

Mike, please share your Work Pretty playlist!

I had seen 'big girl banger' on tiktok and knew he was skeevy but I had no idea that he was also Curvy Wife Guy! Blew my mind, what an arc